We’re the first people modern slavery victims speak to when getting help. Their stories are shocking

A record 20,000 people were identified as potential victims of modern slavery in the UK last year. These individuals may have been subject to human trafficking, domestic servitude, criminal exploitation or other forms of abuse.

To get government-funded support, they have to go through a process called the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Through this, the Home Office determines whether people are survivors of modern slavery or human trafficking and if they should get support – such as protection, accommodation and access to legal advice.

The first stage of the NRM is that potential victims are connected with ‘first responders’.

These are frontline workers or volunteers for organisations which support survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking. They interview the person about their experiences and write a report for the Home Office, which then makes a decision independently.

• I didn’t know I was a human trafficking victim till I was in my 50s – why did nobody rescue me?
• How can we tackle modern slavery if those on the frontline don’t know what it looks like?
• I was forced to work unpaid and never let out of the house. Modern slavery is all around us in the UK

Last year the Home Office made more negative decisions than ever before. 

The Big Issue speaks to two first responders for the Salvation Army about the realities of volunteering on the frontline with modern slavery survivors. They share the challenges which come with asking people to open up about their traumatic experiences and the strength of survivors to seek help.

Josefiina Kalliokoski, 30

Josefiina works for the Salvation Army as assistant prison ministries officer, but she also volunteers with the charity as a first responder for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. This is what she has learned.

I do a lot of cases around criminal exploitation. Often it’s young people. We’re talking barely 18 or 19 and they have been groomed from a young age. I spoke to a young person once who had been in care since he was eight and there had been a strategic, cruel process of grooming him for drug trafficking.

He thought these people were his friends. They cared for him. Then they started pinning things on him. He was completely exploited and facing quite serious charges. He was devastated and struggling to make sense of the fact that the people he thought he could trust turned out to be violent, scary and abusive.

Other cases that have stayed with me are around domestic servitude – people who have been trafficked as live-in maids. They are completely cut off from the outside world. They are not given a phone. They cannot leave the house. Stories like that stay with you.

As a first responder, I meet with a potential victim – someone who has been referred to the Salvation Army – or I might speak to them over the phone or on video. I ask them about their experience and what they’ve been through and write a report, and I send it to the Home Office which makes a decision about whether they should receive further support.

It can be challenging. You’re asking people about the most difficult things that have happened to them. I try my best to be as kind, gentle and sensitive as possible – to give space and consideration to how the person feels reliving these events,

I did a case a couple weeks ago, and the person said this was the first time that they had let it all out. They had a massive sense of relief that someone believed them. It brings me comfort that, when people get a positive decision from the Home Office, they’ll get further support.

It might mean counselling, financial support, practical things like clothing or childcare. It might be helping them get into a safe house.

After I submit my report, the Home Office makes an initial decision within five days. A negative decision can be challenged, but I’m not involved in that process. It’s always disappointing when there’s a negative decision.

In the majority of cases, you feel for the person. You don’t feel like people are trying to lie to you or trick the system. Sometimes I feel like a lot is asked of victims. We make the interview as trauma-informed as possible, but if you’ve gone through something horrific, you might not remember exact dates, details or how many instances there were of certain things. 

It makes me frustrated and sad how much is asked of people who have already gone through such horrific experiences. 

I often think about how incredibly cruel people can be to each other. You just cannot believe how people are treated. But then on the other hand, when you see how people are supported and rescued, you see there is so much love and care on the other side.

It is such a privilege to be part of this process where people are journeyed towards freedom and empowerment and hope. After I’ve done a case, I often just sit there for a minute and sit with it and think, even though it’s so painful to hear these things, what a beautiful thing that I can help in some small way.

Ian Gee, 66

Ian is a retired organisation development professional who was inspired to start volunteering as a first responder by survivors of modern slavery he met in an asylum seeker hotel. This is his experience.

My husband and I moved to Devon 15 years ago. When the last government started dispersing migrants and asylum seekers around the country, there was a call out from a local charity. I became a case worker providing people with guidance and support.

While I was there, three people I was helping had been trafficked or enslaved. I must admit, it was something I really knew nothing about. One of the organisations involved was the Salvation Army, and that was when I decided to explore becoming a first responder.

I try to do one case a week. Interviews can last anywhere from an hour and a half to four hours, depending on the complexity. Most of mine have been over the telephone. I have done a couple of face-to-face interviews and I’ve done a couple of video links into prisons.

The more data I can get from people, the less chance there is of the Home Office asking for further information. At first, I realised I wasn’t asking people enough questions. It can be difficult, particularly if they are distressed, and you don’t want to re-distress them. But I try to get the richest details as I can.

The best thing that I learnt is that people trust me with their stories. I’ve had people say to me it’s the first time they’ve felt heard. They might have been crying the whole time. I’ve had translators crying as we’ve listened to what people have said. 

The worst thing is realizing how many people are willing to take advantage of vulnerable people. It is shocking when you hear the stories. I can’t understand how inhuman some people can be to their fellow human beings. 

But also I’ve learned that change is possible through the right support. I like to think I can give people hope, and then the modern slavery support team at the Salvation Army can grow that hope into a vibrant, healthy and safe life.

Find out more about how to volunteer as a first responder for the Salvation Army.

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